I should clarify that it's not a monetary partnership with EFDSS; it's more a case of making extra teaching and learning resources available. We're delighted to have them on board.

"If there were to be a national competition it should be possible to structure a package for schools, or community organisations (or even folk clubs or regional folk bodies) that could at the same time encourage research into traditional songs and participation in other events whilst offering the competition (and it's prize(s)) as an incentive. Good publicity for the society, and a good way of making traditional music relevant to today's generation by encouraging children (and adults) to think about why the songs were sung in the past and what aspects of today's world they would like to see celebrated in the same way."

As Dave says, this would be pretty costly to adminsiter. It would need a grant, I expect. I think EFDSS has much bigger fish to fry, grant-wise, at present. And I hate to piddle in anybody's cornflakes, but if that's what Dick's actually suggesting, it looks like a significant policy strand to me, and as I said before, I think it would be nice if such suggestions were being made from inside, rather than people shouting them through the doors.

Anyway, EFDSS have already run a national songwriting competition this year. The question is whether it's the sort of thing the society ought to be adopting as a major strand of activity. As a member, I don't think so. The competitive side of organisations like comhaltas is something that many people take exception to.